For How Long?

Writers: AL
Date Posted: 31st July 2014

Characters: Briata
Description: Briata has a nightmare.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Y'gel

Briata

It started like any other Fall, the Silvery warning that slid across the
sky as it approached. The dragons were ready - they were always ready.
As Wingleaders called out, dragons with their riders took to the sky,
clouds of bronze, brown, green and blue with a hint of gold in great,
colourful waves faced the onslaught. The silver rolled and writhed as
it drew it's blanket, but the dragons remained unflinching against the
oncoming tide.

One of the few things Briata knew that those without dragons probably
didn't was that Thread was not silent. Even through the wind that
whistled in their ears, the stuff fell toward the earth, hissing as it
passed. Great clumps broiled with tendrils, as if eager to eat each
other should no other source be found. There were no mouths, no teeth
to tear and rend, and yet a single touch would scar for life.

It started like any other Fall, with that Silver veil drowning out the
blue. The wings rose to meet their ancient enemy, but among them two
bronzes shone brighter, fairer than the others. A young man and an
older both set to battle in a never ending war, their faces grim,
determination etched into the stony set of their features. Aughashyth
and Latarth bugled their challenge in harmony while the riders pointed
toward the darkened sky.

She remained outside, witness to the chaos as it broiled above. Although
her mind told her to go, to flee to safety, her feet would not obey and
she remained witness to the raging scene. In adn out, over and under,
dragons in an explosive display of choreography danced with fire and
mocked the Thread that tried so desperately to consume the world. It
had stopped by then, it's borders reached, and the setting sun threw
blood across the silvery cloud that tossed its children in its fierce
desire. As time ticked on, the dragons remained, unwavering in their
defense.

Then it moved, the cloud that had stilled geared itself forward to coil
above her. It had chosen her, chosen to make her its sacrifice. It
whirled about, that silver rain tumbling toward her until a streak of
fire seared it to ashes which floated down to alight upon her hair.
Another flash, and another, and fire drew its own curtain to protect her
as two bronzes danced with death to protect something precious beneath.
That determination redoubled and the cloud thickened as did the shower
of clumps, so eager to capture its prey. She could feel the heat, the
flicker of flames teasing her skin as the dragons dove and swooped.
Suddenly, glittering tendrils snapped from the cloud above to wrap
themselves around the younger of the bronzes and tugged him upward while
the maw of the cloud opened, great silver teeth jagged and gleeful
glinted in the waning light only to snap shut around the pair.

She screamed, arms thrust toward the sky as she pleased for their
return, but only laughter greeted her cries and those tentacles snaked
out once more, that time to capture the other pair and drag it kicking
and screaming toward its great, gaping jaw.

***

Briata jerked away and immediately her mind sought that of another. But
that mind was gone, lost almost two turns prior. She choked back a sob
as her mind then turned to another, that one to be found and relief
flooded through her. Dreams. Dreams. She still dreamed of him.
Sometimes it was pleasant. Sometimes it was not.

Careful not to wake Y'gel, Briata sat up and swung her legs over the
side of the bed. Several, slow breaths were inhaled then eased out.
She still loved him though he had been gone for some time. She would
never stop loving him. As the body in the bed shifted, Briata's eyes
fell across the form. The other was gone, though, and she'd found a new
love, though she'd tried so hard not to. Although she had resisted,
Y'gel had proved too easy to love, even so soon after she'd lost her first.

The floor was cool as Briata pressed her feet into the stone and rose.
Noiselessly, she padded to the curtained off couch that housed the
bronze and she remained there to watch him sleep for a few moments. How
her life had changed so quickly in such a short time. Yet though she'd
lost, she'd found and she was happy and content with the new. As Briata
retreated, she peered into the two bassinets that housed her foster
daughter and her son. Content. Yes. Despite it all, she was content.

So why was she so afraid?

A tremour danced over her spine and Briata ran her hands over her arms
as she returned to her bed. She should be happy. She was happy. Yet,
she was also fearful. She drew back alongside that warm body that
occupied the other side of the bed and snuggled against it, her eyes
clothing. For now she had him, his gentle touch, his heady scent, the
caress of his voice. For now she could keep him. For now.

But for how long?

Last updated on the August 3rd 2014

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For How Long?